Owino has now said he will fight to make sure his new club carries the day against, Gor Mahia, a club he says he supports.
“Caf matches are the biggest in Africa and as a player, it has always been my target to play in the group stage every season,” Owino told
Nation Sport. “It is always good to play against players and a team you are familiar with.
“Even though I am a Gor Mahia fan and former player, loyalty won’t count in February as I will fight for Napsa Stars to ensure we qualify for the group stages. We have very experienced players and I am confident we shall win in both legs and qualify for the group stage.”
“When you start away it is an advantage of course on our side but also it gives you too much pressure when playing away from home in the first game so we have to go there and do our job and maybe finish it back home,” Fathi told online Napsa Stars TV.
“I think it is a fair draw and I think it will be very interesting to play Gor Mahia because they have a big history in the competition but also we are trying to write our own history in this competition and it will be interesting to come up against them.”
“[David Owino] Odhiambo’ is a Pensioner. The player has signed with Napsa Stars for two years. Welcome!” the club announced on Saturday .
At Zesco United, Odhiambo established a legendary status as he spent six years with the Ndola club where he won five Super League titles, three Absa Cups, and two Charity Shields.
His great abilities also saw Zesco United establish themselves as regular competitors in the Caf Champions League and in the Confederation Cup.
Odhiambo was part of the Timu ya Ziko squad that struggled in the 2019/20 season, failed to defend the Super League title and finished fifth. They ended up missing out on the continental slots after participating in the last eight years.
Before facing the Algerian champions, Gor Mahia had to navigate past APR of Rwanda in the preliminary round.
On the other hand, Napsa Stars reached the second preliminary phase after a 1-1 draw against UD Songo of Mozambique. The Pensioners advanced courtesy of the away goals rule after Emanuel Mayuka equalised for them in the 74th minute in Beira. UD Songo had taken the lead in the first half but a spirited fight by the Zambian outfit ensured their journey came to an end.
Gor Mahia, who are yet to appoint a permanent and qualified coach for the Caf matches, will have to find a way past the Lusaka based side.
The first leg will be played in Nairobi on February 14 with the return leg slated for February 21.
The aggregate winner will proceed to the group stage of the competition, and assured of at least Sh30 million in prize money.
The Kenyan champions were relegated to the Confederation Cup after being bundled out by Algerian side CR Belouizdad following a 8-1 aggregate thrashing in the Caf Champions League first round.
On the other hand, Napsa Stars proceeded to the play-offs on away goals rule after a 1-1 aggregate score against UD Songo of Mozambique.
Napsa Stars is home to former Gor Mahia players Shaban Odhoji and Timothy Otieno as well as another Kenyan Andrew Tololwa, formerly of Mathare United and AFC Leopards.